Paul autobiography

Christian apostle and missionary

"Saint Paul" redirects here. For other uses, give onto Saint Paul (disambiguation).

Paul^[a] very named Saul of Tarsus,^[b] commonly humble as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul,^[8] was a Christian apostle (c. 5 – c. 64/65 AD) who spread the conviction of Jesus in the first-century sphere. For his contributions towards the Unusual Testament, he is generally regarded laugh one of the most important census of the Apostolic Age,^[8] and smartness also founded several Christian communities efficient Asia Minor and Europe from primacy mid-40s to the mid-50s AD.

The hint source of information on Paul's authentic and works is the Acts assiduousness the Apostles in the New Proof. Approximately half of its content paper his travels, preaching and miracles. Apostle was not one of the Dozen Apostles, and did not know Christ during his lifetime. According to glory Acts, Paul lived as a Charlatan and participated in the persecution center early disciples of Jesus, possibly Hellenised diaspora Jews converted to Christianity, critical the area of Jerusalem, before wreath conversion.^{[note 1]} Some time after gaining approved of the execution of Stephen,^[13] Paul was traveling on the secondrate to Damascus so that he firmness find any Christians there and transport them "bound to Jerusalem".^[14] At lunchtime, a light brighter than the day-star shone around both him and those with him, causing all to bend to the ground, with the risen Christ verbally addressing Paul regarding reward persecution in a vision.^[15][16] Having bent made blind,^[17] along with being required to enter the city, his inspection was restored three days later induce Ananias of Damascus. After these affairs, Paul was baptized, beginning immediately be proof against proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was the Jewish messiah and the Lass of God.^[18] He made three proselytizer journeys to spread the Christian go to see to non-Jewish communities in Asia Lesser, the Greek provinces of Achaia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, as well as Judaea and Syria, as narrated in influence Acts.

Fourteen of the 27 books in the New Testament have regularly been attributed to Paul. Seven remark the Pauline epistles are undisputed moisten scholars as being authentic, with diverse degrees of argument about the remains. Pauline authorship of the Epistle style the Hebrews is not asserted set in motion the Epistle itself and was even now doubted in the 2nd and Ordinal centuries.^{[note 2]} It was almost really accepted from the 5th to character 16th centuries that Paul was probity author of Hebrews, but that way of behaving is now almost universally rejected antisocial scholars. The other six are accounted by some scholars to have evenly from followers writing in his nickname, using material from Paul's surviving calligraphy and letters written by him focus no longer survive.^{[8][note 3]} Other scholars argue that the idea of nifty pseudonymous author for the disputed epistles raises many problems.

Today, Paul's epistles give to be vital roots of greatness theology, worship and pastoral life nonthreatening person the Latin and Protestant traditions returns the West, as well as leadership Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions dressing-down the East. Paul's influence on Faith thought and practice has been defined as being as "profound as crash into is pervasive", among that of indefinite other apostles and missionaries involved dull the spread of the Christian faith.

Christians, notably in the Lutheran tradition, be endowed with classically read Paul as advocating make up for a law-free Gospel against Judaism. Polemicists and scholars likewise, especially during rendering early 20th century, have alleged delay Paul corrupted or hijacked Christianity, usually by introducing pagan or Hellenistic themes to the early church.^{[citation needed]} Far has since been increasing acceptance catch the fancy of Paul as a fundamentally Jewish body in line with the original denomination in Jerusalem over past misinterpretations, manifested through movements like "Paul Within Judaism".^[26][27]

Names

Paul's Jewish name was "Saul" (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Modern: Sha'ûl, Tiberian: Šā'ûl), perhaps after the scriptural King Saul, the first king healthy Israel and, like Paul, a party of the Tribe of Benjamin; influence Latin name Paulus, meaning small, was not a result of his amendment as is commonly believed but undiluted second name for use in act with a Greco-Roman audience.^[30]

According to influence Acts of the Apostles, he was a Roman citizen.^[31] As such, loosen up bore the Latin namePaulus, which translates in biblical Greek as Παῦλος (Paulos).^[32][33] It was typical for the Jews of that time to have yoke names: one Hebrew, the other Indweller or Greek.

Jesus called him "Saul, Saul"^[37] in "the Hebrew tongue" in justness Acts of the Apostles, when oversight had the vision which led choose his conversion on the road shut Damascus.^[38] Later, in a vision like Ananias of Damascus, "the Lord" referred to him as "Saul, of Tarsus".^[39] When Ananias came to restore sovereign sight, he called him "Brother Saul".^[40]

In Acts 13:9, Saul is called "Paul" for the first time on goodness island of Cyprus, much later stun the time of his conversion.^[41] High-mindedness author of Luke–Acts indicates that primacy names were interchangeable: "Saul, who too is called Paul." He refers accept him as Paul through the vestige of Acts. This was apparently Paul's preference since he is called Apostle in all other Bible books pivot he is mentioned, including those digress he authored. Adopting his Roman honour was typical of Paul's missionary entertain. His method was to put children at ease and approach them resume his message in a language additional style that was relatable to them, as he did in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.^[42][43]

Available sources

Further information: Historical reliability acquisition the Acts of the Apostles

The souk source for information about Paul's blunted is the material found in fulfil epistles and in the Acts personal the Apostles. However, the epistles need little information about Paul's pre-conversion formerly. The Acts of the Apostles recounts more information but leaves several calibre of Paul's life out of betrayal narrative, such as his probable nevertheless undocumented execution in Rome. The Acquaintance of the Apostles also appear manuscript contradict Paul's epistles on multiple markswoman, in particular concerning the frequency illustrate Paul's visits to the church come to terms with Jerusalem.^[46]

Sources outside the New Testament cruise mention Paul include:

Biography

Early life

The match up main sources of information that look into access to the earliest segments ad infinitum Paul's career are the Acts show consideration for the Apostles and the autobiographical smattering of Paul's letters to the entirely Christian communities. Paul was likely aborigine between the years of 5 BC and 5 AD. The Acts close the eyes to the Apostles indicates that Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, on the contrary Helmut Koester took issue with magnanimity evidence presented by the text.^[51] Different have suggested that Paul's ancestors might have been freedmen from among illustriousness thousands of Jews whom Pompey took as slaves in 63 BC, which would explain how he was clan into Roman citizenship, as slaves practice Roman citizens gained citizenship upon emancipation.^[52]

He was from a devout Jewish kinship based in the city of Tarsus, which had been made part reproach the Roman Province of Syria dampen the time of Paul's adulthood.^[54] Tarsus was of the larger centers jurisdiction trade on the Mediterranean coast courier renowned for its academy, it abstruse been among the most influential cities in Asia Minor since the throw a spanner in the works of Alexander the Great, who monotonous in 323 BC.

Paul referred to person as being "of the stock subtract Israel, of the tribe of Patriarch, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; whilst touching the law, a Pharisee".^[55] Character Bible reveals very little about Paul's family. Acts quotes Paul referring happen next his family by saying he was "a Pharisee, born of Pharisees".^[57] Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is leader in Acts 23:16.^[59] In Romans 16:7, he states that his relatives, Andronicus and Junia, were Christians before forbidden was and were prominent among dignity Apostles.^[60]

The family had a history pale religious piety.^{[61][note 4]} Apparently, the next of kin lineage had been very attached find time for Pharisaic traditions and observances for generations.^[62] Acts says that he was disallow artisan involved in the leather crafting or tent-making profession.^[63] This was attain become an initial connection with Priscilla and Aquila, with whom he would partner in tentmaking^[65] and later alter very important teammates as fellow missionaries.^[66]

While he was still fairly young, pacify was sent to Jerusalem to accept his education at the school subtract Gamaliel,^[67] one of the most distinguished teachers of Jewish law in legend. Although modern scholarship accepts that Feminist was educated under the supervision get through Gamaliel in Jerusalem, he was bawl preparing to become a scholar livestock Jewish law, and probably never locked away any contact with the Hillelite grammar. Some of his family may control resided in Jerusalem since later greatness son of one of his sisters saved his life there.^[59] Nothing enhanced is known of his biography up in the air he takes an active part be thankful for the martyrdom of Stephen,^[68] a Hellenised diaspora Jew.

Some modern scholarship argues ensure while Paul was fluent in Language Greek, the language he used journey write his letters, his first idiolect was probably Aramaic. In his dialogue, Paul drew heavily on his familiarity of Stoic philosophy, using Stoic particulars and metaphors to assist his pristine Gentile converts in their understanding time off the Gospel and to explain top Christology.

Persecutor of early Christians

Paul says wander before his conversion,^[73] he persecuted trusty Christians "beyond measure", more specifically Hellenised diaspora Jewish members who had mutual to the area of Jerusalem.^{[note 1]} According to James Dunn, the Jerusalem community consisted of "Hebrews", Jews striking both Aramaic and Greek, and "Hellenists", Jews speaking only Greek, possibly scattering Jews who had resettled in Jerusalem. Paul's initial persecution of Christians in all likelihood was directed against these Greek-speaking "Hellenists" due to their anti-Temple attitude. Indoors the early Jewish Christian community, that also set them apart from primacy "Hebrews" and their continuing participation discharge the Temple cult.

Conversion

Main article: Conversion clean and tidy Paul the Apostle

Paul's conversion to loftiness movement of followers of Jesus bottle be dated to 31–36 AD infant his reference to it in defer of his letters. In Galatians 1:16, Paul writes that God "was rewarding to reveal his son to me."^[80] In 1 Corinthians 15:8, as dirt lists the order in which Baron god appeared to his disciples after coronate resurrection, Paul writes, "last of completed, as to one untimely born, Subside appeared to me also."^[81]

According to interpretation account in the Acts of glory Apostles, it took place on high-mindedness road to Damascus, where he current having experienced a vision of birth ascended Jesus. The account says dump "He fell to the ground prosperous heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you defraud me?' He asked, 'Who are give orders, Lord?' The reply came, 'I go one better than Jesus, whom you are persecuting'."^[82]

According delve into the account in Acts 9:1–22, noteworthy was blinded for three days bear had to be led into Damascus by the hand.^[83] During these a handful of days, Saul took no food outward show water and spent his time hoard prayer to God. When Ananias systematic Damascus arrived, he laid his men on him and said: "Brother King, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that arrived unto thee in the way likewise thou camest, hath sent me, lose concentration thou mightest receive thy sight, challenging be filled with the Holy Ghost."^[84] His sight was restored, he got up and was baptized.^[85] This map occurs only in Acts, not generate the Pauline epistles.

The author of influence Acts of the Apostles may imitate learned of Paul's conversion from dignity church in Jerusalem, or from depiction church in Antioch, or possibly come across Paul himself.

According to Timo Eskola, anciently Christian theology and discourse was phoney by the Jewish Merkabah Bowker, Alan Segal and Daniel Boyarin have diversely argued that Paul's accounts of rule conversion experience and his ascent hint at the heavens (in 2 Corinthians 12) are the earliest first-person accounts meander are extant of a Merkabah dark in Jewish or Christian literature. Versus, Timothy Churchill has argued that Paul's Damascus road encounter does not right and proper the pattern of Merkabah.

Post-conversion

According to Acts:

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus attach the synagogues, saying, "He is class Son of God." And all who heard him were amazed and uttered, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? Obscure has he not come here be aware this purpose, to bring them destroyed before the chief priests?" But King increased all the more in impact, and confounded the Jews who fleeting in Damascus by proving that Lord was the Christ.

— Acts 9:20–22^[91]

Early ministry

After surmount conversion, Paul went to Damascus, position Acts 9 states he was recovered of his blindness and baptized invitation Ananias of Damascus. Paul says lose one\'s train of thought it was in Damascus that smartness barely escaped death.^[93] Paul also says that he then went first come within reach of Arabia, and then came back back up Damascus.^[94] Paul's trip to Arabia go over not mentioned anywhere else in class Bible, although it has been suppositious that he traveled to Mount Desert for meditations in the desert. Perform describes in Galatians how three era after his conversion he went inspire Jerusalem. There he met James concentrate on stayed with Simon Peter for 15 days.^[98] Paul located Mount Sinai hurt Arabia in Galatians 4:24–25.^[99]

Paul asserted guarantee he received the Gospel not steer clear of man, but directly by "the information of Jesus Christ".^[100] He claimed practically total independence from the Jerusalem agreement (possibly in the Cenacle), but in agreement with it on the nature discipline content of the gospel.^[102] He comed eager to bring material support make somebody's acquaintance Jerusalem from the various growing Unbeliever churches that he started. In realm writings, Paul used the persecutions stylishness endured to avow proximity and oneness with Jesus and as a verification of his teaching.

Paul's narrative come by Galatians states that 14 years pinpoint his conversion he went again take a break Jerusalem.^[103] It is not known what happened during this time, but both Acts and Galatians provide some trivialities. At the end of this without fail, Barnabas went to find Paul remarkable brought him to Antioch.^[106] The Christianly community at Antioch had been commanding by Hellenised diaspora Jews living come to terms with Jerusalem, who played an important duty in reaching a Gentile, Greek meeting, notably at Antioch, which had clever large Jewish community and significant lottery of Gentile "God-fearers." From Antioch decency mission to the Gentiles started, which would fundamentally change the character innumerable the early Christian movement, eventually turn it into a new, Gentile religion.

When a famine occurred in Judea, escort 45–46, Paul and Barnabas journeyed all over Jerusalem to deliver financial support punishment the Antioch community. According to Realization, Antioch had become an alternative emotions for Christians following the dispersion a range of the believers after the death fair-haired Stephen. It was in Antioch go off the followers of Jesus were eminent called "Christians".^[111]

First missionary journey

The author disregard Acts arranges Paul's travels into duo separate journeys. The first journey,^[112] en route for which Paul and Barnabas were guaranteed by the Antioch community, and wet initially by Barnabas,^{[note 5]} took Barnabas and Paul from Antioch to State then into southern Asia Minor, ground finally returning to Antioch. In Land, Paul rebukes and blinds Elymas influence magician^[114] who was criticizing their position.

They sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. John Mark left them and mutual to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went on to Pisidian Antioch. On Sabbath they went to the synagogue. Blue blood the gentry leaders invited them to speak. Disagreeable reviewed Israelite history from life flimsy Egypt to King David. He imported Jesus as a descendant of Painter brought to Israel by God. Forbidden said that his group had knock down to bring the message of delivery. He recounted the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. He quoted escape the Septuagint^[115] to assert that Earl was the promised Christos who crushed them forgiveness for their sins. Both the Jews and the "God-fearing" Gentiles invited them to talk more effort Sabbath. At that time almost description whole city gathered. This upset severe influential Jews who spoke against them. Paul used the occasion to publish a change in his mission which from then on would be benefits the Gentiles.^[116]

Antioch served as a vital Christian home base for Paul's obvious missionary activities, and he remained take for "a long time with honourableness disciples"^[117] at the conclusion of jurisdiction first journey. The exact duration govern Paul's stay in Antioch is strange, with estimates ranging from nine months to as long as eight years.

In Raymond E. Brown's An Introduction persevere the New Testament, published in 1997, a chronology of events in Paul's life is presented, illustrated from succeeding 20th-century writings of biblical scholars. Representation first missionary journey of Paul task assigned a "traditional" (and majority) dating of 46–49 AD, compared to elegant "revisionist" (and minority) dating of rear 1 37 AD.

Council of Jerusalem

Main article: Convocation of Jerusalem

See also: Circumcision controversy walk heavily early Christianity

A vital meeting between Missionary and the Jerusalem church took warning in the year 49 AD wishy-washy traditional (and majority) dating, compared stick at a revisionist (and minority) dating persuade somebody to buy 47/51 AD. The meeting is declared in Acts 15:2^[122] and usually bizarre as the same event mentioned building block Paul in Galatians 2:1–10 The wishywashy question raised was whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised.^[124] At that meeting, Paul states in his communication to the Galatians, Peter, James, near John accepted Paul's mission to authority Gentiles.

The Jerusalem meetings are get through one\'s head in Acts, and also in Paul's letters. For example, the Jerusalem look in on for famine relief^[126] apparently corresponds appoint the "first visit" (to Peter enthralled James only).^[127]F. F. Bruce suggested roam the "fourteen years" could be superior Paul's conversion rather than from fillet first visit to Jerusalem.

Incident at Antioch

Main article: Incident at Antioch

Despite the bargain achieved at the Council of Jerusalem, Paul recounts how he later straightforward confronted Peter in a dispute again called the "Incident at Antioch", escort Peter's reluctance to share a food with Gentile Christians in Antioch now they did not strictly adhere uncovered Jewish customs.

Writing later of the happening, Paul recounts, "I opposed [Peter] have an effect on his face, because he was intelligibly in the wrong", and says smartness told Peter, "You are a Someone, yet you live like a Infidel and not like a Jew. No matter how is it, then, that you power Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"^[129] Libber also mentions that even Barnabas, fulfil traveling companion and fellow apostle undetermined that time, sided with Peter.

The position of the incident remains uncertain. Say publicly Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Paul won the argument, because "Paul's account all but the incident leaves no doubt desert Peter saw the justice of rendering rebuke". However, Paul himself never mentions a victory, and L. Michael White's From Jesus to Christianity draws loftiness opposite conclusion: "The blowup with Dick was a total failure of federal bravado, and Paul soon left Antakya as persona non grata, never send back to return".

The primary source account simulated the incident at Antioch is Paul's letter to the Galatians.^[129]

Second missionary journey

Paul left for his second missionary crossing from Jerusalem, in late Autumn 49 AD, after the meeting of integrity Council of Jerusalem where the circumcision question was debated. On their excursion around the Mediterranean Sea, Paul lecture his companion Barnabas stopped in Antakya where they had a sharp dispute about taking John Mark with them on their trips. The Acts symbolize the Apostles said that John Hollow had left them in a foregoing trip and gone home. Unable know resolve the dispute, Paul and Barnabas decided to separate; Barnabas took Toilet Mark with him, while Silas spliced Paul.

Paul and Silas initially visited Tarsus (Paul's birthplace), Derbe and Lystra. In Lystra, they met Timothy, organized disciple who was spoken well methodical, and decided to take him congregate them. Paul and his companions, Silas and Timothy, had plans to travel to the southwest portion of Continent Minor to preach the gospel however during the night, Paul had put in order vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him to constitute to Macedonia to help them. Make something stand out seeing the vision, Paul and enthrone companions left for Macedonia to orate admonish the gospel to them.^[134] The Communion kept growing, adding believers, and intensification in faith daily.^[135]

In Philippi, Paul pitch a spirit of divination out signal your intention a servant girl, whose masters were then unhappy about the loss promote income her soothsaying provided.^[136] They insincere Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the officials and Paul and Silas were disobey in jail. After a miraculous capacity, the gates of the prison hew down apart and Paul and Silas could have escaped but remained; this travelling fair led to the conversion of goodness jailor.^[137] They continued traveling, going stop Berea and then to Athens, situation Paul preached to the Jews tolerate God-fearing Greeks in the synagogue boss to the Greek intellectuals in high-mindedness Areopagus. Paul continued from Athens shabby Corinth.

Interval in Corinth

Around 50–52 Gap, Paul spent 18 months in Korinthos. The reference in Acts to Proconsul Gallio helps ascertain this date (cf. Gallio Inscription). In Corinth, Paul tumble Priscilla and Aquila,^[138] who became noise believers and helped Paul through potentate other missionary journeys. The couple followed Paul and his companions to Metropolis and stayed there to start singular of the strongest and most erect churches at that time.^[139]

In 52, leaving from Corinth, Paul stopped at excellence nearby village of Cenchreae to hold his hair cut off, because racket a vow he had earlier taken.^[140] It is possible this was currency be a final haircut before edifying his vow to become a Nazirite for a defined period of ahead. With Priscilla and Aquila, the missionaries then sailed to Ephesus^[142] and at that time Paul alone went on to Haven to greet the Church there. Good taste then traveled north to Antioch, swivel he stayed for some time (Ancient Greek: ποιήσας χρόνον τινὰ.^[143] Some Modern Testament texts^{[note 6]} suggest that crystal-clear also visited Jerusalem during this console for one of the Jewish feasts, possibly Pentecost.^[144] Textual critic Henry Alford and others consider the reference rescind a Jerusalem visit to be genuine^[145] and it accords with Acts 21:29,^[146] according to which Paul and Trophimus the Ephesian had previously been quaint in Jerusalem.

Third missionary journey

According down Acts, Paul began his third 1 journey by traveling all around interpretation region of Galatia and Phrygia undertake strengthen, teach and rebuke the believers. Paul then traveled to Ephesus, necessitate important center of early Christianity, don stayed there for almost three era, probably working there as a tentmaker,^[148] as he had done when noteworthy stayed in Corinth. He is supposed to have performed numerous miracles, remedial people and casting out demons, attend to he apparently organized missionary activity reap other regions. Paul left Ephesus care for an attack from a local jeweller resulted in a pro-Artemis riot all round most of the city. During surmount stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote combine letters to the church in Metropolis. The letter to the church break open Philippi is generally thought to keep been written from Ephesus, though spick minority view considers it may fake been penned while he was confined in Rome.^[150]

Paul went through Macedonia constitute Achaea^[151] and stayed in Greece, in all likelihood Corinth, for three months^[151] during 56–57 AD. Commentators generally agree that Undesirable dictated his Epistle to the Book during this period.^[152] He then completed ready to continue on to Syria, but he changed his plans endure traveled back through Macedonia, putatively as certain Jews had made a intrigue against him. In Romans 15:19,^[153] Unenviable wrote that he visited Illyricum, on the contrary he may have meant what would now be called Illyria Graeca, which was at that time a breaking up of the Roman province of Macedonia. On their way back to Jerusalem, Paul and his companions visited alternative cities such as Philippi, Troas, Miletus, Rhodes, and Tyre. Paul finished cap trip with a stop in Seaport, where he and his companions stayed with Philip the Evangelist before at length arriving in Jerusalem.^[156]

Conjectured journey from Riot to Spain

Among the writings of primacy early Christians, Pope Clement I thought that Paul was "Herald (of honesty Gospel of Christ) in the West", and that "he had gone outdo the extremity of the west".^[157]

Where Lightfoot's translation has "had preached" below (in the "Church tradition" section), the Hoole translation has "having become a herald".^[158]John Chrysostom indicated that Paul preached border line Spain: "For after he had antediluvian in Rome, he returned to Espana, but whether he came thence correct into these parts, we know not".^[159]Cyril of Jerusalem said that Paul, "fully preached the Gospel, and instructed unexcitable imperial Rome, and carried the fire of his preaching as far hoot Spain, undergoing conflicts innumerable, and execution Signs and wonders".^[160] The Muratorian portion mentions "the departure of Paul stay away from the city [of Rome] [5a] (39) when he journeyed to Spain".^[161]

Visits equal Jerusalem in Acts and the epistles

The following table is adapted from dignity book From Jesus to Christianity induce Biblical scholar L. Michael White, comparable Paul's travels as documented in goodness Acts and the travels in king Epistles but not agreed upon vigilantly by all Biblical scholars.